Man, where do I even start? I’ve been a fan of the Indiana Pacers for 25 years, and let me tell you, it’s been one heck of a ride. It all began when I was a scrawny kid in middle school, eating lunch in the school cafeteria and catching the 2000 NBA Finals on a grainy TV. Lakers vs. Pacers. I was hooked the moment I saw Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose running the floor, working together like they were born for it. Reggie, especially, caught my eye. He was tall and skinny like me, but out there balling like a superhero. I became a Reggie Miller fan for life.

Back then, I didn’t realize Reggie was already a veteran, well past his prime. I started watching every Pacers game I could, diving into the regular season and soaking up whatever highlights I could find. I was gutted to learn I’d missed some of his greatest moments, like his epic battles against Michael Jordan’s Bulls in the ‘98 Eastern Conference Finals. I heard about that one time Reggie pushed MJ (check it out here), and yeah, I’ll admit, it wasn’t his finest moment. As a Jordan fan too (I mean, who doesn’t love MJ, except maybe Jazz fans?), I cringed a bit watching the tape. But as a Reggie stan, I couldn’t help but admire his grit. The guy wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with the GOAT, doing whatever it took to win. That’s what made him special.

Then I stumbled on Reggie’s most legendary performance: the “8 points in 9 seconds” against the Knicks in ‘95 (watch it here). I must’ve replayed that clip a hundred times. The way he stole the game from New York in their own house? Unreal. It kills me that I wasn’t old enough to watch it live. By the time I was a fan, Reggie was still great, but the Pacers didn’t make it back to the Finals in 2001. That year, I rooted hard for the Sixers to take down the Lakers, hoping AI could get some revenge for Indy. But Kobe and Shaq were just too much. Those Lakers teams were monsters.

Fast forward to now—2025. I can hardly believe it’s been 25 years. The Pacers made it back to the Finals this year, their first trip since 2000, and they pushed the Thunder to Game 7. I was so pumped, but also nervous as hell. The night before Game 7, I had this crazy dream: the game was tied at halftime, but in the third quarter, the Pacers scored two points. Two! I woke up in a cold sweat, too scared to keep watching in my head.

When I checked my phone the next morning, the fourth quarter was still going. I pulled up the box score, and it was like my dream was coming true. Indy was up by one at the half, but the third quarter was a disaster—Thunder outscored them 34-20. By the time I refreshed, the game was over. Final score: 103-91, Thunder. Another heartbreak.

What made it sting even more was Tyrese Haliburton. He’s the heart of this team, a legit superstar with his slick passes and clutch threes. But in Game 7, he got hurt in the first quarter—something with his Achilles, I heard. He was cooking, too, dropping 9 points in 7 minutes. Without him, the Pacers just fell apart. They turned the ball over 23 times, and OKC made them pay. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unstoppable, and the Thunder’s defense was suffocating. If Tyrese had stayed healthy, I really think we could’ve won. The Pacers were so close—Game 6 was a blowout in our favor! But that’s basketball. Luck’s never on our side.

It’s tough to stomach that the Pacers still haven’t won an NBA title. Not in 2000, not now, not ever since they joined the league in ‘76. I keep thinking about Reggie’s fight, Tyrese’s heart, and all the what-ifs. This team’s got so much spirit, though. Guys like Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Bennedict Mathurin stepped up big in the playoffs. If Tyrese comes back strong—and God, I hope his injury isn’t as bad as it sounds—I know we’ll be back.

Being a Pacers fan is like signing up for a rollercoaster that never quite reaches the top. But I wouldn’t trade it. From Reggie’s clutch shots to Tyrese’s no-look passes, this team’s given me memories I’ll carry forever. Here’s to hoping that one day—maybe soon—I’ll see Indy lift that trophy. Until then, I’ll keep cheering, dreaming, and probably stressing out over every close game.

Go Pacers.

Today’s recommended quiz: NBA Trivia Quiz.